FOUR people have died after a wooden footbridge collapsed in the north of Spain.
The victims were part of a group of seven people affected by an accident at El Bocal Beach on the edge of Santander.
One of the other three was rescued alive but the remaining two are still missing.
All the victims have been described as “young to middle-aged,” but their nationalities are currently unknown.
The group was on a route between El Bocal and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography – which includes several walkways.
All seven fell into the water and onto rocks below when the bridge gave way.
It is thought the terrifying incident took place around 4.30pm.
A call to emergency services was made by horrified bystanders fifteen minutes later.
The coastguard is now involved in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Firefighters, police and other government operatives have also been mobilised as part of the search efforts.
Around seventy people in total are working to complete the rescue operation before nightfall.
The mayor of Santander, Gema Igual, spoke to the press later that evening.
“It’s a great tragedy that some young people who came to enjoy nature encountered this,” she said.
She explained that seven people were involved in the incident and that a young woman suffering with hypothermia had been rescued.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, is thought to be on his way to Santander.
The project to install a series of walkways was carried out more than a decade.
At the time it faced strong local opposition, and at one point was stopped altogether.
Since the, both the Santander City Council and Coastal Authority are yet to remove this aging structures.
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